An inquiry into water transfer network of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China

As a typical region moving forward on green development demonstration belt, Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) is sensitive to profound conflict between coordination development and unbalanced water allocation. Uncovering water transfer network can help improving water resource coordination development from the perspective of water-trade nexus. An integrated framework by uniting the inter-regional input-output (IRIO) analysis and social network analysis (SNA) in this study can estimate not only the scale and structure of water trade pattern, but also the topological characteristic of water transfer network of YREB. Results show that the rank of production-based virtual water volume was roughly in the order of middle, lower and upper reaches except Jiangsu, while the rank of consumption-based virtual water volume was in the order of lower, middle and upper reaches. The provincial virtual water external dependence in YREB was not well consistent with the water resource endowment. Water transfer network was constructed on basis of the inter-provincial virtual water transfers between every two provinces inside YREB. Furthermore, the water transfer network assessment results illustrated the network structural form and revealed the network property and characteristics. Inside YREB, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi were predominant in the water transfer network (from degree centrality), while Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan and Anhui acted as the important medium and bridge (from betweenness centrality). The AFAF sector (Agriculture, Forestry, Animal husbandry and Fishery) and Industry sector of Jiangxi, and the Industry sector of Hubei and Jiangsu were the critical exporters in the network. Jiangsu received large amounts of virtual water from many good hubs and also transferred much to many good authorities when acted as bagmen in the network. Some provinces received large virtual water flow but provided few to others, such as Shanghai, and the AFAF sectors of most provinces transferred much to others. Thus, the research results would help understand the regional responsibility transfer in the hidden network linkages of interprovincial and intersectoral virtual water flows.